Experimental infrared spectra of Cl−(ROH) (R = H, CH3, CH3CH2) complexes in the gas-phase

The hitchhiker's guide to dynamic ion-solvent clustering: applications in differential ion mobility spectrometry

This article highlights the fundamentals of ion-solvent clustering processes that are pertinent to understanding an ion's behaviour during differential mobility spectrometry (DMS) experiments. We contrast DMS with static-field ion mobility, where separation is affected by mobility differences under the high-field and low-field conditions of an asymmetric oscillating electric field. Although commonly used in mass spectrometric (MS) workflows to enhance signal-to-noise ratios and remove isobaric contaminants, the chemistry and physics that underpins the phenomenon of differential mobility has yet to be fully fleshed out. Moreover, we are just now making progress towards understanding how the DMS separation waveform creates a dynamic clustering environment when the carrier gas is seeded with the vapour of a volatile solvent molecule (e.g., methanol). Interestingly, one can correlate the dynamic clustering behaviour observed in DMS experiments with gas-phase and solution-phase molecular properties such as hydrophobicity, acidity, and solubility. However, to create a generalized, global model for property determination using DMS data one must employ machine learning. In this article, we provide a first-principles description of differential ion mobility in a dynamic clustering environment. We then discuss the correlation between dynamic clustering propensity and analyte physicochemical properties and demonstrate that analytes exhibiting similar ion-solvent interactions (e.g., charge-dipole) follow well-defined trends with respect to DMS clustering behaviour. Finally, we describe how supervised machine learning can be used to create predictive models of molecular properties using DMS data. We additionally highlight open questions in the field and provide our perspective on future directions that can be explored.

Infrared Multiphoton Dissociation Spectroscopy with Free-Electron Lasers: On the Road from Small Molecules to Biomolecules

Infrared multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy is commonly used to determine the structure of isolated, mass-selected ions in the gas phase. This method has been widely used since it became available at free-electron laser (FEL) user facilities. Thus, in this Minireview, we examine the use of IRMPD/FEL spectroscopy for investigating ions derived from small molecules, metal complexes, organometallic compounds and biorelevant ions. Furthermore, we outline new applications of IRMPD spectroscopy to study biomolecules.

Structures, energetics, and dynamics of gas phase ions studied by FTICR and HPMS

Both Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS) and high-pressure mass spectrometry (HPMS) are very powerful tools in the field of gas phase ion chemistry. Many experimental method developments based on FTICR-MS and HPMS are summarized, including the coupling of a high-pressure external ion source to a FTICR mass spectrometer, blackbody infrared radiative dissociation (BIRD), coupling laser desorption ionization with HPMS, infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD), radiative association and bimolecular routes to gas phase cluster ion formation. An abundance of thermochemical data, such as proton affinities, gas phase acidities, methyl cation affinities and metal cation affinities, have been obtained. Some of these data are the basis of the standard data listed in the NIST thermochemical databases. Ion-molecule interactions, energetics, reactivities, and structures of molecules have been extensively investigated using the methods developed based on HPMS and FTICR mass spectrometric techniques.

Infrared multiple photon dissociation spectroscopy of ions in Penning traps

The ability of Paul and Penning traps to contain ions for time periods ranging from milliseconds to minutes allows the trapped ions to be subjected to laser irradiation for extended lengths of time. In this way, relatively low-powered tunable infrared lasers can be used to induce ion fragmentation when a sufficient number of infrared photons are absorbed, a process known as infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD). If ion fragmentation is monitored as a function of laser wavelength, a photodissociation action spectrum can be obtained. The development of widely tunable infrared laser sources, in particular free electron lasers (FELs) and optical parametric oscillators/amplifiers (OPO/As), now allows spectra of trapped ions to be obtained for the entire "chemically relevant" infrared spectral region. This review describes experiments in which tunable infrared lasers have been used to irradiate ions in Penning traps. Early studies which utilized tunable carbon dioxide lasers with a limited output range are first reviewed. More recent studies with either FEL or OPO/A irradiation sources are then covered. The ionic systems examined have ranged from small hydrocarbons to multiply charged proteins, and they are discussed in approximate order of increasing complexity.

The calculated infrared spectrum of Cl-H2O using a new full dimensional ab initio potential surface and dipole moment surface

We report a full dimensional, ab initio-based global potential energy surface (PES) and dipole moment surface for Cl-H2O. Both surfaces are symmetric with respect to interchange of the H atoms. The PES is a fit to thousands of electronic energies calculated using the coupled-cluster method [CCSD(T)] with a moderately large basis (aug-cc-pVTZ). Vibrational energies and wave functions are accurately obtained using MULTIMODE. The wave function and dipole moment surface are used to calculate and analyze the pure infrared spectrum at 0 K which is compared with experiment. Vibrational energies and the infrared spectra for DOD and HOD/DOH are also presented.

Infrared spectroscopy of organometallic ions in the gas phase: from model to real world complexes

Gas phase mid-infrared spectroscopy of molecular ions can nowadays be performed with high performance mass spectrometers coupled to free electron lasers (FEL). The wide and continuous tunability of highly intense FELs in the mid-infrared region can be exploited for performing infrared multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy of molecular ions. This review will focus on gas phase IRMPD spectroscopic investigations aiming at probing the structure and the reactivity of transition metal complexes. The performance of infrared spectroscopy for characterizing the coordination mode of polydentate ligands and the spin state of the metal will be illustrated. Infrared spectroscopy has also been exploited to probe the reactivity of metal complexes, and a special attention will be given to the infrared spectroscopy of reactive intermediates.

Femtosecond dynamics of Cu(CD3OD)

We report the femtosecond nuclear dynamics of Cu(CD3OD) van der Waals clusters, investigated using photodetachment-photoionization spectroscopy. Photodetachment of an electron from Cu-(CD3OD) with a 150 fs, 398 nm laser pulse produces a vibrationally excited neutral complex that undergoes ligand reorientation and dissociation. The dynamics of Cu(CD3OD) on the neutral surface is interrogated by delayed femtosecond resonant two-photon ionization. Analysis of the resulting time-dependent signals indicates that the nascent Cu(CD3OD) complex dissociates on two distinct time scales of 3 and 30 ps. To understand the origins of the observed time scales, complimentary studies were performed. These included measurement of the photoelectron spectrum of Cu-(CD3OD) as well as a series of calculations of the structure and the electronic and vibrational energies of the anion and neutral complexes. Based on the comparisons of the experimental and calculated results for Cu(CD3OD) with those obtained from earlier studies of Cu(H2O), we conclude that the 3 ps time scale reflects the energy transfer from the rotation of CD3OD in the complex to the dissociation coordinate, while the 30 ps time scale reflects the energy transfer from the excited methyl torsion states to the dissociation coordinate.